Railway



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. W. HENDERSON. I

RAILWAY SIGNAL.- N0.,331,879'. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

N. FEIEGE. PuowLnhs n hvr. Wahin mn. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. W. HENDERSON.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 331,879. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

N. PETERS. Pl'mn'LimognpMr. 'Wuhingtan, D. (l

Stains PATENT @rricia JOHN W. HEXDERSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAlLWAY-SlGNAL.

Application filed January 2, 1884. Serial No. 116,200.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN XV. HnND'ERsoN, of the city of Philadelphia,county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anImprovement in Railway-Signals, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to railway signals and switches; and itconsists in certain mechanism by which the signals or switch at one ormore points may be operated positively, with a cable terminating in theswitch-station, which may be very distant from the said sig nals orswitches, the said cable being so constructed and combined with suitablemechanism that it acts positively, like a rod or tube; further, in soforming the signal apparatus that should theactuating-cable becomebroken the danger-signal will be automatically dis played and theoperator will be notified of such derangement or breakage, and indetails of construction, all of which are fully set forth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, whichform part thereof.

The object of lhisinvention isto provide railroad signals or switcheswith safety or detecting attachments by which any defect in theirworking is at once apparent; also, to work a signal or switch of thisclass with cables as effectively and positively as when rods or tubesare used to work said signals or switches from distant points, therebygreatly reducing the cost of construction; also, to so construct thesignal that should its operating-cable become broken the danger-signalwill be automatically displayed.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation showing my improvedrailway-signal; Fig. 2, an elevation of the upper part of the signalpostand its arm, and shows its connections with the electrical detector.Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cam-plate for directly operating thesignal-arm, and shows its connection with I the actuating-levers and theswitch. Fig. l is a sectional elevation oi the electrical de tectororindicator. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form ofsignal-actuating cam. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified arrangementof the intermediate connections for the cables. Figs. 7 and S aremodified forms of construe tion of electrical indicator or detector.

"IFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,879, dated December 8,1885.

(No model.)

A is the block-station, or switch and signal operators house.

13 is the signal-lever, which works on 21. segment, 1%, and may besecured in its two extreme positions by a bolt, 1), which enters slotsor notches in said segment in the usual manner. The lever B is madeT-shaped, to one leg of which is secured a very heavy weight, B, (saytwelve hundred pounds) and to the other arm of which is hinged the bar0, whose lower end is pivoted to one arm of the bellcrank G, the otherarm of which crank is connected with the end of the cable D. The otherend, (7., of the cable passes over a pulley, G, and is secured to aweight, G, of less weight than B, but heavier than could be pulled at Bby a man if B were removed, (say eight hundred pounds.) This cablel) iscutpreferably at the middle, and the ends (I d are secured to oppositesides of the same wheel, E, so that if said wheel is turned it will payout or draw in on both of said sections of cable.

Secured to wheel E is a wheel, E, around which is a cord, F, to the endof which is a heavy weight, F, (say two thousand pounds) and this cord Fis so arranged that it tends to turn the wheel B, so as to wind in saidcable-sections and put them under great tension. Now, as the weight Fpractically countcrbalances the weights B and G, the only force to beovercome in operating the signal is the friction produced by the cableand its connections.

Considering the device so far, it is evident that as the cable D overits entire length is put undersuch great tension its effect is aspositive as if composed of a stiff rod, bar, or tube. It the cable D iscut nearer one end than the other, the ends (2 and d would be secured topulleys or drums of proper diameters, so that they shall allow for allexpansion or contraction in said sections-that is, the longer thesection the larger the diameter of the drum to which it is secured, and

these drums would make up the drum E, as

they would be secured together side by side.

In the drawings the cable D is supposed to.

be cut in the middle; hence the drums E would be of equal diameters, orone drum is used, as

shown.

lnterposcd in the cable close to the wheel G is the cam device H foroperating the signal,which consists of the cam-plate H, which is guidedin supports I, and provided with a slot having two straight parts, h h,in line, and connected by the converging oblique parts h h with thestraight parts h", which are made parallel with parts h.

J J is the signal crank or lever, the arm J of which is provided with apin or roller which works in the slot in said cam-plate, and the arms Jof which are connected with the signal device proper.

L is the signal-post carrying at the top the lamp N and pivotedsignal-arm M, which is pivoted at m, and provided with the red glassbulls-eye M, to warn danger in the nighttime. This pivoted arm M isactuated by rod k, which is reciprocated by a bell-crank. K and whichbell-crank is operated by a rod or bar, K, connecting with one arm,J',-of the crank J J. the same post L, one is raised when the other islowered. The second of said signal-arms may be worked from the otherarm, J, of said crank. (See Fig. 3.) As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thesignal-arm M is lowered, and to raise it to the posit-ion shown in Fig.2 the lever B is shifted. This allows the weight F to come intoplay,winding the end d of cable D upon the wheel E, raising weight G andmoving the cam-plate H to the left.

This action rocks lever J J and raises the arm M as desired. Now, shouldthe cable D between wheel E and bell-crank 0 break when the arm islowered, it is evident that the preponderance of the weight F overweight G will shift the cam-plate H, as before, raising the said arm.Now, should the cable D break between the wheel E and cam-plate H, thenthe power of the weight G shifts the plate to the right, and the otherend of the slot comes into play to raise the signalarm. If the cableshould expand or contract lengthwise, the increase or decrease is takenup or given out by wheel E rotating automatically, if it be located ator about the center of said cable, and the expansion and contraction isuniform in both sections; but should. either the section to the left ofwheel E or to the right of it expand or contract separately, thenv thestraight parts h h of the slot in cam-plate H allow for such expansion,and thereby overcome any danger of raising the arm M partly away, asoften happens in signals as now generally constructed. If desired, therailroadswitch 1? may be operated directly by said cam-plate H, throughthe agency of a rod, 0, which is actuated by the slot in said plate. H,as shown in Fig. 2. By this construction,

-when the switch is open for the siding, the

danger-signal is displayed. The switch can be worked by aseparate cableand cam-plate, the plate being so arranged that a breakage of the cablewill cause the switch to be set for the main line.

In place of the connections for the divided cable D, (shown in Fig.1,)that shown in Fig.

If two signals are to be used on- 6 may be used, it being similar tothat already described, except that the end d is connected to the wheelE", used before as an idler-wheel to bring the two sections of cableinto line, and the cord F is passed around said wheel E (preferably oneor two times) as well as E.

In place ofusing wheels,levers may be used, as indicated in dottedlines, and in lieu of weight F a spring, F might be substituted. Inplace of the cam mechanism H, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) that shown inFig. omay be used. In this case the cam-plate H is pivoted and thestraight partshh' of the slot are made curved and concentric with thepivotal point of the said plate or disk H. A lever, K, similar to thatdescribed, may be used, or simplyastraight one, as shown, which isconnected directly with the bottom of rod k. The cable D then passesaround a pulley secured to the back of said disk, and may be pinnedthereto. In the position shown the signal-arm would be down and theroller of the lever K would be in the concentric part h of the camslotofdisk H, and would allow of expansion and contraction of the cable Dwithout moving said lever. It, now, it be desired to raise thesignal-arm, the lever B is moved and the cable D is slackened, theweight G taking up the slack cord and rotating the disk H, causing thepart h of the cam-slot to move the lever K, and-finally the concentricpart h of the canrslot is brought into action on the roller of lever K,and allows for expansion and contraction of cable D when the signal'armis raised. This will preventany undue movement to the signalarm whendown or up, preventing erroneous or uncertain signals. The slot h h ifis made double, so that if the disk H rotates in either direction thesame action will take place. If the cable should break, the disk wouldbe rotated and display thedanger-si-gnal. Thearm M, when brought to itstwo extreme positions, comes in contact with contact-springs R It,connected by wires 1 r with an indicator, S, in the operators house A.The pivot m of the arm M is also connected with said indicatorS by awire, 1' and has a battery, R, located therein. If'desired, this line 1-may bemade aground-wire.

The indicator may be constructed as follows: Referring to Fig. 4, thewires 7* r are in circuit with magnets S S, between the poles of whichis an armature, S", connected with a pivoted handor pointer, S, which,when in the. position shown in said figure, indicates that the arm M isneither up nor down and the signal is either ina state of transition orworking defectively; but. when attracted by electro-magnet S indicatesthat the arm is down, and when attracted by electromagnet S indicatesthat it is up. The wiresr r" are also in circuit with electroqnagnets TT, and are then connected together and unite with the wire W. Thearmatures T" of the electromagnetsT T are pressed against contactscrewsT by springst when no current passes, and this closes a local circuit bywire U through battery U and alarm U If desired, the battery U may bedispensed with and the circuit U derive its current from battery R. Vhenthe arm M is up, as shown in Fig. 2, the circuit is closed through wire1 and electro-magnets S" and T, the former of which attracts thearmature S causing the needle or pointer S to point to red (see Fig. 2)and the latter to break the local circuit U by attracting its armatureT. \Vheu the arm M is down, the same effect is produced, but by magnetsS and T, and the pointer S points to white. In the act of raising orlowering the arm the alarm it should ring. If it does not, the device isout of order.

In place of the construction of indicator shown in Fig. 4, that shown inFig. 7 may be used, in which the magnets TT are dispensed with andspring-contacts t i used for the local circuit U; or that shown in Fig.8 may be used, in which the magnets T T are also dispensed with, but thearmatures T worked by the magnets 8 8. The detector is also asapplicable to switches as to signals.

Any other form of indicator may be used and utilized to indicate theposition of a switch as well as the signal, or the cam mechanism may bevaried, as I do not limit myself to the details of construction.

I am aware of the British Patent No. 1,079 of 1880, and do not claimanything thereon Shown or set forth.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A railroad-signal provided with an actuating-cable, mechanism to keepsaid cable under tension, and take-up devices to compensate for uniformexpansion or contraction of said cable, in combination with a switch andconnecting mechanism, whereby the same cable which actuates the signalalso actuates the switch, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. A railroad signal or switch provided with an actuating-cable andmechanism to keep said cable under tension,whereby it is operated forlong distances with all the eftects,and the power pto be exerted by theoperator shall be practically only suffieicnt to overcome the frictionof a rigid rod or tube, and cam mechanism to antomatically cause thesignalarm to be thrown up to indicate the danger and close the switchshould said cable break, in combination with detecting apparatus toindicate whether the arm of said signal or switch is in its extremepositions or in an intermediate position, sub stantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. The combination of lever Band its weight B, cable D, wheels E E, ropeor chain F, weight F, pulley G, and weight G, with a signal device andswitch actuated by said cable, and a detecting device to indicate theposition of the signal arm or switch, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

4. The combination ofleverB and its weight 13, cable D, wheels E E, ropeor chain F,

weight F, pulley G, and weight G rith camplate H, having slots h 71 it,lever K, and a danger-signal actuated by said lever, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of pivoted cam-plate H, having slots 71. h 11", withaswiteh or signal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a railroad signal or switch, an actuatingcable, in combinationwith weights at each end to keep said cable under tension, an automaticweighted takenp device arranged to act upon said cable at a pointbetween its ends, an operating-lever to act upon the cable between twoadjacent weights, a switch or signal arranged to be operated by saidcable at a point between the other end and middle weight, whereby saidcable is operated with all the client of a rigid rod, and devices, consisting of wheels it E E2, cable F, and weight F, to allow fordiil'ercntial expansion or contraction in said cable without operatingthe said switch or signal, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

7. In a railroad signal or switch, a cable formed in two parts, incombination with mech anism to draw said parts together, weights ortheir equivalent to act upon the extremeends to draw said parts asunder,and a slotted camplate having slots h h It", adapted to actuate saidswitch or signal attached to and operated by said cable, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

8. In a railroad switch and signal, the com bination of a cable, weightsat each end to keep said cable under greattension, a weighted take-updevice, substantially as described, arranged to act upon said cable at apoint between its ends to compensate for expansion and contractiomaswitch and a signahconnecting levers and bars to actuate said switch andsignal, and cam mechanism cons sting of cumplate H, having slots 71., h,and J1 operated by said cable to actuate both the signal and switchsimultaneously, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a switch and signal, the combination of a cable heavily weightedat each end, so as to be operated with all the effect of a rigid bar,and cam mechanism consisting of camplate H, having slots it ii if,actuated by said cable to simultaneously operate both the nal andswitch, a switch and signal, and connecting levers, rods, and bars bywhich said slots in the cam-plate actuate said switch and signal,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. A railroad signal or switch provided with an actuating-(able and endweights to keep said cable under tension, whereby it is operated forlong distances with all the cil'ects, and the power to be exerted by theo1 erator shall be practically only suiiicicnt to overcome the frictionof the rod or tube, a hand-lever to operate said cable, and a canrplateoperated by said cable to actuate said switch or signal, in combinationwith a detecting apparatus to indicate whether the arm of said sig- ISQnal or switch is in its extreme posit-ions or in substantially as andfor the purpose specified. an intermediate position, substantially asand E 12. The combination of lever B and its for the purpose specified.weight B with cable D, wheels E E, rope or 11. A railroad-signalprovided with an actchain F, weight F, pulley G, weight G, cam- 5 natingcable and mechanism to keep said caplate H, having slots h h if, aswitch or sig- 2o ble under tension, whereby it is operated for 1 nal,or both, and connecting mechanism, the long distances with all theeffects, and the whole being constructed and operated as and power to beexerted by the operator shall be i for the purpose set forth.

practically only sufficient to overcome the fric- I In testimony ofwhich invention I hereunto 10 tion of a rigid rod or tube, cam-plate H,havset my hand.

lng slots h h h", and conncctlng mechanism, JOHN V. HENDERSON.

the whole being operated to automatically cause the signal-arm to bethrown up to indicate danger the instant the actuating-lever is 15freed, should cable break beyond the signal,

\Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, ISAIAH MATLAOK.

